System and method of maintaining strict hardware affinity in a virtualized logical partitioned (LPAR) multiprocessor system while allowing one processor to donate excess processor cycles to other partitions when warranted

Abstract

A system, computer program product and method of logically partitioning a multiprocessor system are provided. The system is first partitioned into a plurality of partitions and each partition is assigned a percentage of the resources of the system. However, to provide the system with virtual machine capability, virtual resources, rather than physical resources, are assigned to the partitions. The virtual resources are mapped and bound to the physical resources that are available in the system. Because of the virtual machine capability of the system, logical partitions that are in need of resources that are assigned to other partitions are allowed to use those resources if the resources are idle.

1 . A method of logically partitioning a multiprocessor system having virtual machine capability comprising the step of: 
 logically partitioning the system into a plurality of partitions;    assigning virtual resources to each partition;    mapping virtual resources assigned to each logical partition to physical resources available in the system;    binding the virtual resources to the physical resources; and    allowing a first logical partition to use resources assigned to a second partition if the resources are idle.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of mapping virtual resources to physical resources is performed by using a logical partitioned resource map.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein when the second partition is in need of the resources being used by the first partition, the use of the resources is reverted to the second partition.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the use of the resources is reverted immediately to the second partition.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the use of the resources is reverted once the first partition has finished using the resources.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the resources are processors.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the resources are input, output (I/O) slots.  
   
   
       8 . A computer program product on a computer readable medium for logically partitioning a multiprocessor system having virtual machine capability comprising: 
 code means for logically partitioning the system into a plurality of partitions;    code means for assigning virtual resources to each partition;    code means for mapping virtual resources assigned to each logical partition to physical resources available in the system;    code means for binding the virtual resources to the physical resources; and    code means for allowing a first logical partition to use resources assigned to a second partition if the resources are idle.    
   
   
       9 . The computer program product of  claim 8  wherein the code means for mapping virtual resources to physical resources is performed by using a logical partitioned resource map.  
   
   
       10 . The computer program product of  claim 8  wherein when the second partition is in need of the resources being used by the first partition, the use of the resources is reverted to the second partition.  
   
   
       11 . The computer program product of  claim 10  wherein the use of the resources is reverted immediately to the second partition.  
   
   
       12 . The computer program product of  claim 10  wherein the use of the resources is reverted once the first partition has finished using the resources.  
   
   
       13 . The computer program product of  claim 8  wherein the resources are processors.  
   
   
       14 . The computer program product of  claim 8  wherein the resources are input, output (I/O) slots.  
   
   
       15 . A logically partitioned multiprocessor system having virtual machine (VM) capability comprising: 
 at least one storage device for storing code data; and    at least one processor for processing the code data to logically partition the system into a plurality of partitions, to assign virtual resources to each partition, to map virtual resources assigned to each logical partition to physical resources available in the system, to bind the virtual resources to the physical resources, and to allow a first logical partition to use resources assigned to a second partition if the resources are idle.    
   
   
       16 . The logically partitioned multiprocessor system of  claim 15  wherein the code data is further processed to of map virtual resources to physical resources by using a logical partitioned resource map.  
   
   
       17 . The logically partitioned multiprocessor system of  claim 15  wherein when the second partition is in need of the resources being used by the first partition, the use of the resources is reverted to the second partition.  
   
   
       18 . The logically partitioned multiprocessor system of  claim 17  wherein the use of the resources is reverted immediately to the second partition.  
   
   
       19 . The logically partitioned multiprocessor system of  claim 17  wherein the use of the resources is reverted once the first partition has finished using the resources.  
   
   
       20 . The logically partitioned multiprocessor system of  claim 15  wherein the resources are processors.